Collaboration to Stop Coal

I had the pleasure recently of attending the Sierra Club’s Midwest “New Energy Future” conference, where I shared information from PSR on the health impacts of global warming. This included our new fact sheets, which I hope you have seen:

I also talked with Sierra Club staff and volunteers about working together to challenge coal. Sierra Club activists are hungry for reliable scientific information -- on the health impacts of coal, especially at the state level, and on the health implications of climate change. They’re also eager to work directly with PSR’s knowledgeable health professionals.

PSR and Sierra Club already collaborate, and our complementary roles make for a smooth and fruitful partnership. They bring us a well-honed strategy, knowledge of the legal process for power plant licensing, and tremendous experience in on-the-ground organizing.

PSR brings the science-based data they need, delivered in the authoritative voice of qualified health professionals. I call it the perfect dance.

PSR encourages all of our members, especially health professionals, to share health data on coal plant pollution, including CO2, with our allies in the environmental movement. We’re aware, though, that you may need some help finding current health, especially at the statewide level. The national office can help you locate that data. Over the coming months, we’ll be doing the following:

Placing more reports and data on our website and making them easier to find.

Providing “webinars” to walk you through some of those websites and help you find current data on emissions levels and health impacts in your state.

I’ll be in touch in the coming months as we make this information easily accessible -- so PSR members across the country can share their invaluable expertise and medical voice.

Comments

Geri Aird said ..

Thank you for this information and also information on talking with boards of health. Health impacts from coal may be much less than impacts on the population and the environment in Marcellus Shale natural gas areas. These are rapidly developing situations from area to area. We all need to get up to speed on the potential for public health risks from toxins, that deep shale gas well drillers are adding to millions of gallons of water during drilling. Water for food production could become polluted from plastic lined brine holding pits on site. Flooding could exacerbate that situation. Every day brings new information to light. See "ProPublica" for information that NYS Dept. of Health has found radioactive materials on sites.
Please address these new threats to public health on your website. PSR is a valuable resource. Your information on "talking about coal to the board of health is helpful". Only the talk will be about toxic chemicals being added to huge amounts of water, shot deep into the ground, being sucked out and stored briefly onsite or trucked off to a distant treatment plant, which will accept radioactive material.
Your consideration would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Geri Aird, activist
Greater Boston PSR